Sermon XXVII
GOD'S PUNISHMENT AGAINST THE CONTEMNERS OF HIS
WORD
Luke 19:41–48. And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes, &c.
THE sum and scope of this text is this: The Lord is troubled, and lamenteth for the evils which were to come upon the contemners of the word of God. Ye have oftentimes heard what the word of God is, what is the fruit and advantage thereof, also what disciples it hath, of which nothing is said or done; but the punishment and misery only is showed, which was to come upon the Jews, for that they knew not the time of their visitation. Which thing let us well consider of, for it pertaineth unto us also. If they be punished which know not the time of their visitation, what shall come unto them which persecute, blaspheme, and reprehend the gospel and word of God? Howbeit he speaketh here only of them which know not the season of their visitation. The contemners of God are preached against after two sorts: first by threatenings, as Christ threateneth them, Matt. 11:21, "Woe unto thee, Chorazin, woe unto thee, Bethsaida: for if the mighty works which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, (which was his own city, wherein chiefly he wrought miracles,) which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell; for if the mighty works which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would
have remained until this day. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom, in the day of judgment, than for thee." These are the threatenings wherewith he terrifieth them that they should not so neglect the word of God. The other way the Lord here showeth when he sheddeth tears and is touched with pity towards miserable and blind men, he doth not terrify or threaten them, as being indurate and obstinate, but is rather wholly moved with love, and taketh pity on his enemies, and would willingly call them back, but that he could prevail nothing with them, and the means which he used to reclaim them were in vain. Before, in Matthew, he sharply rebuketh them, he dealeth not by love, but by rigour, but here is pure love and pity, as we shall afterwards see.
First, when he drew near to the city, some went before him, and some followed him, with great joy, singing and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David." They spread their garments in the way, they cut down branches from the trees, and strowed them in the way, and all things were done after a goodly manner; but in the midst of this joy, Christ beginneth greatly to weep; he suffereth all to rejoice, notwithstanding his eyes gushed out with tears when he beheld the city, and said, "If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes." As if the Lord should say, O, if thou knewest what belongeth unto thy peace, that thou mightest not be destroyed, but stand still, thou wouldest yet at this day consider of it and beware. Now it were time for thee to know that which would be the best for thee, but thou art blind, and wilt neglect the time, then shall there be no place neither for help nor counsel. As if he said, thou standest here adorned with sumptuous and goodly buildings, and there are in thee mighty citizens, which are both secure and merry, thinking that no danger hangeth over them, but after the space of forty years thou shall be destroyed. Which the Lord plainly foretelleth in these words:
"The days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children
within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another: because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation." Now the Jews, as they supposed, stood unmoveable and safe, resting upon the promise of God, so that they thought no otherwise, but that they should continue so for ever; they were secure, and thought thus with themselves: God will not send such things unto us; we have the temple wherein God himself is resident, we have also plenty of excellent men, money, and other things. Who can do any hurt or harm to us? Moreover, the emperor and people of Rome having taken the city, seeing it furnished with so many excellent buildings, marvelled greatly, and confessed that it was impossible that so great a city should be taken, unless it had been the special will of God. Their boasting therefore and confidence in their false opinion deceived them; howbeit the Lord did more earnestly and deeply consider the matter than they, when he said, O Jerusalem, if thou knewest those things that are known to me, thou wouldest have a care of thy peace: (peace in the scriptures is, when the matters and affairs of any have good success:) thou thinkest that thou hast glad and merry days, that it is well with thee, and that thy affairs are in a prosperous state; but if thou knewest how thine enemies shall by siege afflict thee, keep thee in on every side, and bring thee into such distress, that they shall lay thee even with the ground, destroy all thy buildings, and leave not one stone upon another, thou wouldest surely conveniently receive the word, whereby thou mightest enjoy both true peace and all good things.
The reading of the history of the destruction of this city doth help much to the right understanding of this text. God had plainly so ordained, that at the feast of Easter, at which time they came to Jerusalem out of all quarters, the city should be besieged, and there were then gathered together, as Josephus reporteth, about thirty hundred thousand men, upon whom the Lord would show his grievous indignation and wrath. All the apostles and Christians were departed and gone into the country of Herod, not far from Jerusalem. The Lord took out the wheat and put the chaff together on an heap. Now there was so great a multitude of people, that they
might seem to exceed not only a city, but even a kingdom. And they were driven into so great calamity, that all their victuals were spent, and none at all left unto them, so that they were constrained to eat the strings of their bows, and old shoes, dressing them in such manner as they could, yea, through the exceeding famine, they were driven to kill their own children: the soldiers took the flesh of children roasted from the mothers, smelling the savour of the roasted flesh two streets off: pigeons' dung was unto them instead of salt, and was also very dear: finally, there was so great misery, so great slaughter, and shedding of blood, that it would not have been marvellous for a stone to have been moved with pity. He that had seen it, would have thought that God could not have been so grievously angry, and so greatly have afflicted a people. Both houses and streets were filled with carcasses dead through famine; notwithstanding the Jews remained still so obstinate and without understanding, that they gloried of God, and would not yield themselves, until the emperor set upon them with his whole power and took the city, which they were able to keep no longer. And whenas some of them were so crafty, that they devoured gold that it might not be taken from them, the Roman soldiers thought that they had also so done, whereupon they slew about two thousand, and having ripped their bellies sought for gold. There was such a slaughter made, that it seemed a miserable thing even to the Gentiles; wherefore Cæsar commanded that they should not be so slain, but led captive and sold. The Jews were then sold so cheap, that thirty were bought for a penny; they were then dispersed through the whole world, and were counted the most abject people of all other, as also at this day they are the most contemptible nation on the earth. For they live spread here and there without cities and countries of their own, neither can they again be gathered into one place, so that they shall never be able any more to erect their priesthood and kingdom, as they hope they shall. Thus God revenged the death of Christ, and all the prophets, thus were they recompensed for that they knew not the time of their visitation.
Wherefore let us be here admonished, for it belongeth not only unto us, but even unto all Germany, it is no jesting matter of sport, neither is there any cause why we should persuade ourselves, that it will fall out otherwise with us. The Jews would not believe that evil should come upon them until they had sufficiently tried it. And we at this day are visited by the goodness of God: he hath opened unto us a treasure, his sacred and holy gospel, whereby we know his will, and see how much we were subject to the power of Satan: but no man will receive this gospel, yea, we contemn it, and that which is more miserable, we persecute and blaspheme it: God is patient, it pleaseth him to try us awhile, if we be not watchful, so that the word be again taken from us, the same wrath and indignation which was poured forth upon the Jews, shall also be poured forth upon us.
For there is the same word, the same God, the same Christ, at this day, that there was at that time, whereupon undoubtedly the punishment shall be the same, or at least as grievous both in soul and body. We make a sport and trifling matter of the gospel, for no man embraceth it from his heart, no man frameth his manners according unto it, which is a manifest argument of blindness; a thing surely most miserable; I fear lest the matter will shortly come to pass, that all Germany will fall together on an heap; which, alas! in part of the commonalty hath already had a lamentable beginning; we have lost a great multitude of people, almost an hundred thousand men have been slain only between the feast of Easter and Whitsuntide. It is hard work of God, and I am afraid that the war begun is not yet at an end; this is only a forewarning and threatening whereby God would terrify us, that we might diligently take heed to ourselves; it was nothing but a foretaste; if he come again with his whip he will scourge us more grievously: but we will behave ourselves as the Jews behaved themselves, until there be place for no succour or help; now we might prevent it, now is the time to know what should be best for us, and to receive the gospel with peace, for at this day grace is offered unto us, whereby we may live peaceably, but we suffer day to pass after day, year after year, applying ourselves less to the gospel than before: no man doth now pray unto God for the increase of his
word, no man receiveth it in his heart; if so be that the time shall pass, no prayers shall any more help. We weigh not this matter in our heart, we think ourselves safe, we do not thoroughly perceive the great misery already come to pass, neither do we consider in our minds how miserably God punisheth us with false prophets and sects, which he on every side sendeth unto us, which preach so securely, as if they had wholly received into their breast the spirit the comforter: those which we counted best of all do go away, and bring men into such a perplexity, that they almost know not either what is to be done or not to be done.
But this is only the beginning, although sufficiently horrible and cruel; for there cannot be greater affliction and misery, than if the Lord send among us sects and false prophets, which are so rash and bold, that it is greatly to be lamented; notwithstanding the time of grace is now present: Christ hath been sent down into the world, hath been born man, hath served us, died for us, is risen again from the dead, hath sent unto us the Spirit, the Comforter, hath given unto us his word, hath opened heaven so wide, that all good things may be obtained of us, moreover hath given unto us rich promises, whereby he promiseth that he will preserve us both in this short and frail time, and in the eternal time, in this life, and in the life to come, most plentifully pouring forth his grace upon us. Wherefore the time of grace is now before our doors, but we despise and neglect it, which God neither will, neither can pardon: for when we contemn his word he threateneth punishment, and will at the last punish us, although he should defer it even an hundred years, but he will not defer it so long. And the more purely that the word is preached, so much greater shall the punishment be. But I fear lest this punishment require the subversion of all Germany: God grant that in this thing I be a false prophet, but I fear exceedingly that it will come to pass, God cannot leave this wickedness unrevenged, neither will he defer long, for the gospel is so abundantly preached, that it was not so manifest even in the apostles' time as it is at this day, thanks be to Christ therefore. Wherefore I fear much, lest that all Germany be spoiled, yea, and quite destroyed, unless we otherwise apply
ourselves to this matter. We which have long heard the gospel ought to pray God from the heart, that he would give us longer peace. The princes go about to bring all things to pass by the sword, whereby they go too rashly and rigorously to work; wherefore it is exceeding needful that we should pray unto God, that his gospel may spread farther abroad through Germany, even unto them which have not yet heard it. For if punishment come suddenly upon us, our case shall be miserable, then many souls shall be in danger to be lost before the word shall come unto them; I would wish, therefore, that we would not so cruelly despise the gospel, that precious treasure, not only for our own sake, but also for their sakes which are yet to hear it: a scourge is a little begun, God grant that it may so stay, that neither the princes nor the commonalty be stirred up to greater rage and fury; for if that civil war should begin again, it were to be feared that it would have no end.
We do like as the Jews did, who took greater care of the belly than of God, having more regard how to fill the belly than that they might be saved, wherefore they lost both, and that worthily; forasmuch as they would not receive life, God sent unto them death, so they lost both body and soul: they pretended the same cause that we do: we would willingly indeed embrace the gospel, if there were no danger of body and goods, wife and children. If we shall believe him, said the Jews, the Romans will come, and take away both our place and nation, which nevertheless came unto them; for that which the wicked man feareth falleth upon him. This was a let and hinderance to the Jews that they would not believe the words of God, neither have regard to the rich and large promises made unto them: so also do we, we regard not the mighty and comfortable promises which Christ hath made unto us, as where he saith, Matt. 19:29, "He shall receive an hundred fold, and shall inherit everlasting life." Leave thy wife and children, I will preserve them, I will restore them, so as thou goest to work boldly in my name. Thinkest thou that I cannot build thee other houses? countest thou me so simple, who will give unto thee heaven? wilt thou not put thyself into danger for my sake? if thy goods be taken from thee, heaven and earth are mine, I will recompense thee
abundantly. These and such like sayings we pass over, yea, and also contemn, having diligent consideration only what we have laid up in our chest, and that our purse may be full; neither do we see that even that which we have God hath given unto us, and will as yet give us more, if we believe and trust in him; neither do we mark if that we lose God we shall lose the belly also.
Howbeit they that believe in God, do not avoid peril if it come for his sake, but commit all things to his divine power, that he may order them according to his will, and thus they think: The Lord hath given me both a house and the furniture thereof, wife, children, &c. I have not obtained them of myself; forasmuch then as they are God's I will commit them unto him, he shall best preserve them; for even otherwise I must leave them, wherefore I will refuse to suffer no peril, and to leave whatsoever I have for his sake, if the case so require. If he will have me so to do, he can give me other things, for he hath promised that he will give sufficient to them that believe, both here and in the time to come. If he will not have me to live here, I owe death unto him; when he shall require me, I will be ready for his word's sake. He that shall not do thus, denieth God, and is notwithstanding compelled to lose both this frail life and eternal life. The stinking belly which we make our god, is the cause that we do not cleave to the word of God: for I will first be certain how I may feed myself, and where my goods be. The gospel saith, "Trust in God," but I provide for my belly, and if I have one noble in gold, I think I have sufficient to sustain and nourish me for ten days, and trusting to that which I have laid up, I trust not in God, that as he hath hitherto fed me, so he will nourish me still. Is not this a detestable thing, that I trust to one piece of coin only, whereby I look to have my food and sustenance to-morrow? Fie! what a cursed thing is such care for the belly? Shall a vile piece of coin be more esteemed of me than God himself, in whose power are heaven and earth, who giveth unto us air and water, maketh grain to grow unto us, and sendeth all things necessary? It is more detestable than that it can be expressed by the voice of man, that God is not esteemed of us so much as a little money. Why dost thou not think, God who hath
made me will nourish me, if he will have me live. If he will not, well then shall I have no need. But saith the belly, I find no god in my chest. Thou dull beast, who can assure thee that thou shalt live till tomorrow? Is it uncertain whether thou shalt keep thy belly till tomorrow, and desirest thou to know where food and sustenance is? If this did pierce our heart, we should see how devilish a thing incredulity is. Is it not a horrible thing that I do not make so great account of God, who feedeth so many mouths, as to trust in him, that he will nourish me, yea, that I do make more account of one noble in gold than of God himself, who poureth forth his good things so abundantly? The world is full of the blessings and words of God, he is on every side with his good things, notwithstanding we do not yet commit ourselves to him, to receive his visitation. O cursed world, which cannot trust to God even one day, and yet trusteth to a piece of gold! Thus we see, as I think, of what sort the world is, how it despiseth God for the belly's sake, which notwithstanding it is compelled to lose. O how great contemners of salvation are we! We ought rather to detest the world, but we are deeply drowned in old Adam.
The world is as it were a figure of hell; yea, a very devilish kingdom, and an entrance to hell; wherefore Christ with weeping eyes exhorteth us to know our salvation, and to receive his visitation, lest that a plague and scourge follow, which undoubtedly shall come upon them which, thinking themselves in safety, do not believe and trust in God. God give us his grace, whereby we may know him. It followeth moreover in the text, ver. 45, "And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought, saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves." This is the second part of this text, wherein is declared how the Lord going into the temple, beginneth to drive out the buyers and sellers therein. The former part was nothing else but an exhortation and inviting to faith, but here the Lord insinuateth what the temple of God is, and bringeth a place out of the scripture hereunto appertaining, namely, out of Isaiah, where he saith, chap. 55:7, "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all
people." This is a strong saying, whereas the Prophet saith, "for all people," against the Jews, who trusting unto that temple at Jerusalem, thought that this house made with hands should continue for ever, supposing it to be impossible that God should either destroy this temple, or leave the city desolate, because the word of God cannot lie. Wherefore they stoned Stephen, for that he spake against that holy city, and affirmed that Jesus would destroy it, and change the ceremonies given by Moses; for they said, The prophets have greatly praised this house, and do you apostles preach that it shall be destroyed? Howbeit this saying is thus to be understood, that the city Jerusalem, the temple, and the people should continue until the time of Christ, whereunto all the prophets tend, which referred all things unto Christ, that as he should do, so it should be, and so it should continue.
Wherefore the place of Isaiah extendeth no farther than to the coming of Christ, which all the prophets also witness, affirming that there should come a kingdom which should extend far and wide over the whole world, as it is in Malachi 1:11, "From the rising of the sun, even unto the going down of the same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles, and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering! for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts." Here the prophet speaketh of the spiritual kingdom of Christ, who would build unto himself an house of prayer in the whole world. It is true that God himself did confirm and sanctify the temple at Jerusalem, not because it was furnished with precious stones and goodly buildings, or hallowed of the priests, which manner of trifles and dotages we use at this day, but because he had consecrated and hallowed it with his word when he said, This house is my house; for his word was preached in it. Wheresoever the word of God is preached, there is his true house; where the word of God hath his course and proceeding, there undoubtedly God dwelleth with his grace: where his gospel is, there is the holy house of prayer, there prayers both may and ought to be made unto God. God also will hear us, as Christ saith, John 16:23, "Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked
nothing in my name: ask and ye shall receive." On the contrary, where the word is not, there is Satan wholly. Now, whereas we, imitating the Jews, have builded so many temples, it were tolerable if we had therefore so done that the word of God might be preached in them, for where God's word is preached, there is he present, and poureth forth his grace.
Christ saith that the Jews had made the temple at Jerusalem a den of thieves. They were resident in the temple which sold oxen and sheep, that they which came might buy to offer and worship God: why therefore doth he call it a den of thieves? Surely he giveth unto it a foul name, which came to pass upon this occasion; for that it was not any more counted of them for the house of God, but for a house of merchandize, that is, the priests had no care how the word of God was preached there, and did negligently and carelessly sing, babble, and read Moses and the prophets. But God doth nothing esteem that mumbling of many words, which is only vain and childish. They behaved themselves like as our sacrificing priests and monks do, who of temples and monasteries making dens of thieves, preach poisonous doctrine, and therefore they only celebrate mass, that they may thereby get unto themselves money, and fill the belly, killing and destroying silly sheep with their traditions; which is the den wherein souls are slain; which title is to be given to all temples wherein the word of God is not preached: for there they mock God, kill souls, expel the true word, and set up thievery. O how foully have we been deceived in this point! But God at this day is highly to be praised, that his word reneweth and quickeneth us, driveth away thieves, and teacheth us to pray aright; for a sincere Christian must pray, not in mouth only, but in heart also. Thus we have the second part of our text, how Christ casteth out the sellers, that is, them that served the belly, and maketh place for his word. It were very good if monasteries were scoured after this sort; that either Christian schools, or places wherein the word of God might be preached, might be made of them; which if it come not to pass, they are, and do remain dens of thieves. If Christ calleth his house a den of thieves, how much more shall our temples, which God hath not consecrated,
be proved to be dens of thieves? I have oftentimes desired you, that ye would devoutly pray unto God that he, turning away his indignation, would bridle the devil, who now rageth in the world; for ye have heard of a great calamity how many thousands have been slain, it is to be feared that they are all damned. God requireth obedience of us, and he hath pronounced the sentence, that he that taketh the sword, shall perish with the sword. They were besieged of Satan, who knoweth whether the same shall come unto us? Let us pray God therefore that his kingdom may come unto us, that Christians may be multiplied, and that he will send wise and meek preachers, whom the people may receive; and let him that knoweth the gifts of God pray for others which have not yet heard the word of God, for it is high time so to do.